The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1924. THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Issue 19238, 8 May 1924, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1924. THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

Do the election figures from Germany show that she is anxious to give the Dawes scheme a fair trial? Comment from the Old World suggests that the new Reichstag will contain a majority of members willing to vote for acquiescence in the proposals put forward by the Committee of Experts, and if this stand is frankly taken France will have to justify in more convincing terms than she has used so far her decision to stay in the Ruhr until the last centime of the Reparations is paid. The Dawes plan was one of the important issues of the German elections, but it is fairly clear that not on this question alone was the contest fought. A glance at the figures shows that the Communists have made progress at the expense of the Social Democrats, while the Centre Party has gone back with a substantial decrease in voting strength and in prestige. A comparison between the figures for the previous contest and the one just completed illustrates the changes that have taken place:—

It is impossible to show the Communist strength in 1921 because they were then counted in with the Independent Socialists, but we are now told they have made substantial gains. The parties constituting the coalition prior to the election could claim something Like 285 votes in the Chamber, but that majority has dwindled to less than 230, while the Nationalists, if the Extreme Right is included, can boast 121 in a bloc. It will be seen that the central forces have sustained a setback, as they have in other countries, electors preferring to support parties which stand for definite things, rather than those which keep to the middle of the road for the purpose of being able to leap to one side or the other with equal facility. The German figures suggest that the Reichstag will have a majority in favour of the Dawes plan, but it is not yet clear that this majority will be strong enough to ensure the plan going into force completely. Much will depend on the Nationalists. The Extreme Right may vote against any measure agreeing to Allied control, but the main Nationalist Party will not be solidly behind the extremists in this attitude and their numbers are enough to turn the issue one way or the other. M. Poincare will be deeply interested in the figures, because his own trial is imminent. He will, of course, direct attention to the great rise in the Nationalist strength as evidence of Germany’s determination to deny France her dues, but his fate will hang on his ability to make the French voter go for foreign rather than for domestic questions. The French Prime Minister requires a delay in foreign discussions at the present moment, because he does not want to risk decisions which may weaken his hold in France, particularly when M. Caillaux, known as one of the shrewdest and most effective financiers in the country, has been campaigning vigorously, in spite of his disqualification by the Courts, with some severe criticism of the Poincare administration at home and abroad. M. Caillaux is preaching a policy in regard to Reparations very similar to the British one, and he has been greeted with enthusiasm in the centres outside Paris. Faced by such a biting opponent, M. Poincare will welcome anything that will strengthen his hand—and the victory of the Nationalists in Germany will be welcome to him as a political weapon.

1921. 1924 Majority Socialists 108 95 Independent Socialists .. 61 M id 11 n i,s tS 59 Centre .. 72 61 Social Democrats .. 40 25 People’s Party 65 44 Nationalists 71 99 Extreme Nationalists .. 28 Bavarian People’s Party 20 15 Minor Parties 7 24